Spam messages from 66 111 and premium service account charges

[Anonymous]

On saturday I received a spam text from number 66 111 with the words:

"http://russian-amateurs.com and enjoy your hot babe videos.  Help? 02035981581"

This I forwarded to the O2 spam reporting text number 7726 along with the originating number.

Today I checked my bill and found a premium service charge of £2.50 with the same originating number 66111.  I rang O2 customer services to complain and they informed me that I "must have clicked on some link" and that the only way of resolving the problem was for me to call the originator's Help number 02035981581 to cancel my "subscription", of which I have no knowledge.  They said, also that even with a block on premium services on my account, it could still have further charges made to it regardless.  

The O2 adviser said that the company is London based "Global Awareness Content Servers" and I have found a website for them with the same contact number:  http://global-awareness.co.uk/contact.php

I rang the number and spoke to a polite and pleasant "Amber" of the Customer Service department who said that someone will call me back within 24hrs to cancel whatever account they seem to have for me.  I will report back when I have heard or if I do not.

I am obviously very concerned that without any approval from me, my mobile phone account has been charged and O2 say they are powereless to prevent further such charges, even though I have bought nothing from this company - I am extremely careful about any additional mobile phone charges, let alone this kind of premium service ****** spam.  It looks and feels like I've been scammed - this is little short of fraud in my opinion.

Has anyone else been hit with this kind of scam?  I am not at all impressed by O2's handling of it and I think the whole thing, apart from being a waste of my time, is likely to catch out others who may be less able to deal with it.

[adamtemp64]

Please contact the regulator for premium rate numbers www.phonepayplus.org they can help gettting a refund etc 

[MI5]

There are many ways in which you can be tricked into "subscribing" to these scams. Facebook surveys, "win an iPhone" etc.....
There is a useful help link here http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Pay-Monthly-and-Pay-Go/Are-you-fed-up-with-spam-calls-and-texts-Follow-... and Adam has already given you the link for the regulator to whom you must report this to enable them to act.

[Anonymous]

Thanks - I've just put in a complaint to them.

Will

[adamtemp64]

@Anonymous Hopefully you will get a result the regulator and the ico who gets all the 7726 report data actually do have the powers to act and the ico do hand out big fines .

[Anonymous]

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I too received the same text and jsut ignored them as didnt want to confirm i was a real number by replying and have now found that over £45 has been stolen from my credit. I have tried calling but there is no answer but will also log a complaint with the premium watchdog.

I will let you know the outcome

Paul

[jonsie]

Good luck, hope you get it sorted.  That's a lot of money to lose 

[MI5]

Shows that it is important not to ignore these kinds of scams.
Once caught out by them you must act immediately.

[Anonymous]

Hello.  I was sent a message from an 80005 number and it said FREE SMS along with a message about winning some rubbish and an OPT out reply to 80005 (STOP).  I made the mistake in texting STOP to the 80005 number and ended up getting charged £5 for it!!  I have spoken to 02 and they said that they would dispute this charge on my behalf but I have yet to be refunded.  Any suggestions on how I can be refunded that money?  Any info would be much appreciated.